Venice, California is known as the birthplace of numerous punk and metal acts (Suicidal Tendencies, Beowülf, etc.), but soon the small beachfront community will also be known as the birthplace of hip-hop MC/songwriter/producer Pause (AKA Daniel Kushnir).

After spending a handful of years concentrating on live performances, Pause headed into the studio to create Pacific Rose, his solo debut. The result is a base of classic California-bred hip-hop peppered with jazz and soul, along with a few surprises thrown into the mix to keep listeners guessing.

The best part of Pacific Rose is that it’s hard to categorize; each track changes things up just slightly. At times, it dips into early nineties nostalgia (MC Serch… yeah, I went there). Other times, infectious, J Dilla-inspired beats dominate, giving listeners a nod to the hip-hop of a decade prior. And occasionally, Pause doesn’t sound anything like a Southern California MC, as his lyrics and delivery bend more toward Midwest folks like Aeon Grey.

But while Pacific Rose pays its respects to the hip-hop of the past, it shines when it finds its own sound. Like any good album, the music should be less about what hip-hop is, and more about what hip-hop can be. And while the album doesn’t follow that credo 100% of the time, it manages to veer off and become its own thing numerous times throughout its nine-track course.

It’s a great start for Pause, especially when you find out that Double K of People Under the Stairs contributed both beats and verses to the album. Not a bad guest to have show up on your freshman release, right?

Last year, I did one day of extra work on a movie called “Frankie Go Boom.”

Next weekend, “Frankie Go Boom” will premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) and, if you have a sharp eye, you’ll be able to see me! (Very briefly.)

Directed by Jordan Roberts, the premise behind “Frankie Go Boom” is:

Frank Bartlett has been tortured, embarrassed, and humiliated by his brother Bruce — usually on film — his entire life. Now that Bruce is finally off drugs and has turned his life around, things should be different. They are not.

It stars Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Chris Noth and Ron Perlman. Oh, man… just wait until you see Ron Perlman. Believe me, you’ve never seen him like this before.

Anyway, I’m in the audience during a “drug rehab graduation” scene. Look for a shot of Nora Dunn and Sam Anderson whispering to each other; I’m directly in front of them on the right. Trust me when I say that if you blink you’ll miss me.

Funny story about shooting: Originally, I was supposed to be on the stage playing a recovering addict. Apparently, I fit the part! But before shooting began I got moved down into the audience; guess I’m just not junkie enough. Thankfully.

I had an opportunity to check out the movie a little while back, and I have to say that I’m really happy to have been an admittedly tiny part of it. It’s very funny and totally insane. Exactly how I like my movies.

If you’re going to SXSW next week, be sure to check it out. Here are the details:

Back when I was living in Columbus, Ohio my friends and I started a quote wall. Whenever a bit of brilliance (or otherwise) poured out of someone’s mouth, somebody would yell “Quote!” thus nominating it for Quote Board status. The quote then had to be seconded by someone (it almost always was), and then it would be written down to be forever immortalized on the Quote Board.

This is the modern day equivalent of that classic piece of my past.

QUOTE BOARD:

“It smells like a Band-Aid. It smells like a Band-Aid on a foot. It smells like a Band-Aid on a foot in a hospital.”